Doolittle B-25 engine mods?
I've been discussing, well, arguing, with someone about the Doolittle Raids.
With only about 450 feet of carrier deck available, my guess is that they gunned the engines with brakes and chocks on, then pulled away the chocks and tried to launch, into the wind, obviously, with the deck sloping up a wave at the point of departure.
I also assume a compromise between bomb load and takeoff requirements.
The point of contention is the condition of the engines, about which there is no evidence to suggest any modification. I think they would have used the standard R-2600's, but otherwise would have stripped the aircraft of as much as possible.
I think that the raids were quite hastily conceived after Pearl Harbor leaving no time to modify the engines or props perhaps for greater power at takeoff.
The B25 Mitchell was chosen because it was small and powerful.
We are both wondering if Martin Marauders were available, although they couldn't lift as much.
So, standard engines?